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emmerich, priest simeon married terry Friday, September 27, 2019

Question:

In Catherine Emmerich's book, "The Life of Jesus Christ and biblical revelations" it state's on page 281 volume 1 "I had a vision of the priest Simeon. He was a very aged, emaciated man with a short beard. He had a wife and three grown sons, the youngest of whom was already twenty years old." It also states that this priest simeon was the one Mary presented Jesus to in the temple and that he(Simeon) was told by an angel when Mary was coming and that her kid was the waited for messiah and that he would die shortly after seeing him.

I believe this is the simeon who prophecized that a sword would pierce Mary's heart.

My first question is, if this is a true vision wouldn't that prove that God doesn't mind married priests?

Question #2 Do you know if priests were aloud to marry before Jesus started the church?

Question #3 Simeon was a priest in priesthood before christ died so maybe it was ok to be a married priest before Jesus started the church but not now. Was it ok to be a married priest before Jesus died on cross?

Question #4 Since during the last 60 years the priesthood seems to be infiltrated by homesexuals, perverts and people who don't believe in the doctrines of the church with no intention of leaving, what do you think should be done?

Try to figure out what every priest believes and kick out non-believer's(which would be 90% of the cardinals and probably at least seventy percent of the bishops, and half the priests)? or Maybe allow priests to marry along with kicking out all the Priests who are heretics (homosexuals, perverts,infiltrators who don't believe)?

What's your solution to the problem? And is there any other source that says the Priest Simeon was married?



Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD

Dear Terry:

Simeon was a Jewish priest, not a Catholic priest. Jewish priests were usually married.

Question #1: if this is a true vision wouldn't that prove that God doesn't mind married priests?

A private revelation is not needed. We know from Scripture that priests can be married. Pope St. Peter was married.

In 1 Timothy 3, St. Paul explained St. Timothy, who was a priest, “A bishop must be irreproachable, married only once, of even temper, self-controlled, modest, and hospitable” (3:2) and “Deacons may be married but once and must be good managers of their children and their households” (3:12). 

St. Paul, also a priest, admitted that he was not married (I Corinthians 7:8).

So Scripture allows for married priests, but it was never mandated. 

In addition,Church Fathers affirmed that married priests are allowed. Clement of Alexandria (d. 215), for example, said:  “All the same, the Church fully receives the husband of one wife whether he be priest or deacon or layman, supposing always that he uses his marriage blamelessly, and such a one shall be saved in the begetting of children.”

The issue of married priest is not dogma or doctrine; it is a discipline. Thus, the Church can allow it or not allow it as the Holy Spirit directs the Magisterium to do. Married priests are the norm in the Eastern Catholic Rites. Traditionally, priests in the Latin Rite are to be celibate (unmarried), although there have been special dispensation given to converts who were married Protestant ministers to become priests.

It does not matter to God if a priest is married or not. But, St Paul warns that married priests have a difficulty balancing the demand of the priesthood with the demands of a wife and family (1 Corinthians 7:7–8, 7:32–35):

"For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that. But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am, ... I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife. There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction"

I have been on both sides. I was a married Baptist minister, and I am now a Catholic Brother (not a priest) with duties that would make marriage impossible. When I was a married Baptist minister there were conflicts with my wife because of my ministerial duties.

See the article, Why does the Church mandate that priests be celibate?

 

Question #2: Do you know if priests were aloud to marry before Jesus started the church?

As mentioned above, before the creation of the Catholic Church, before the New Covenant, which came into force when Jesus died on the Cross, the Mosaic Covenant was still in force. Under the Old Covenant, Jewish priests were allowed to be married. When the New Covenant went into force there were married men who were Catholic priests, such as St. Peter. Celibacy became a focus later on. See the article linked above.

 

Question #3: Is it ok to be a married priest before Jesus died on cross?

See Question #2

 

Question #4: Since during the last 60 years the priesthood seems to be infiltrated by homesexuals, perverts and people who don't believe in the doctrines of the church with no intention of leaving, what do you think should be done?

We are currently experiencing a purge and cleansing of the Church. The "homosexuals and perverts" are being exposed and removed from the active priesthood and/or laicised (defrocked) as they should be.

Under our current pope, regardless of what anyone thinks of him, a great blessing has developed: The Liberals throughout the Church are coming out into the open. They, too, will be dealt with in God's own time. Those who are unrepentant heretics will be removed, those who are heterodox will be corrected and if not reformed removed from office.

All this will happen in God's time. The finish of this cleansing may not be on our lifetime, but it will come to an end when the homosexuals and liberals will no longer be in the priesthood.

 

Question #5: Is there any other source that says the Priest Simeon was married? 

The passage in Luke 2:25 suggests that Simeon was the officiating priest at the Temple. Other than that, Simeon being a Jewish priest, as far as I now, is tradition. Since he would have been a Jewish priest, it does not matter as to the discussion of married Catholic priests.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary


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